THE PHILIPPINE 



Journal of Science 



C. Botany 



Vol, IV AUGUST, 1909 No. 3. 



THE GENUS ERIA IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS.* 



By Robert Gree.nleaf Leayitt. 

 (From the Ames Botanical Laboratory, North Boston, Mass., U. 8. A. 



Forty species of Eria, all but six of which are thought to be endemic, 

 have thus far been discovered in the Philippine Islands and are described 

 below. They are distributed in seven sections, § Urostachya being most 

 fully represented, with § Hymeneria second in number of species. 



Only thirteen of these Erias were known to science when, within a 

 decade or so, the present botanical activity began, the remaining twenty- 

 seven being, therefore, all recent or new. Thirteen species are described 

 for the first time in the present account, These facts arouse the expecta- 

 tion that in the immediate future a large number of new species will be 

 brought to light in the extensive districts which, botanically, are as yet 

 virgin territory. Many exotic kinds will also doubtless be found. With 

 the increase of material and the more enlightened study which it will 

 permit, groups now thought to be integral species will reveal a definite 

 multiplicity. As a result of these several modifying causes, the genus of 

 only a few years hence will doubtless wear a quite different aspect from 

 that of the Philippine Eria of to-day ; and the present summary will very 

 shortly appear fragmentary and out of date. Without doubt it embodies 

 mistakes incidental to a paucity of materials. It is attempted with the 

 purpose of promoting the study of the group by collectors, and is prepared 

 in view of the fact that, at the moment of writing, there is in existence 

 no general treatment of the genus Eria. I have hoped to lighten the 



* Contributions from the Ames Botanical Laboratory. No. 10. 

 85754 201 . 



